About Me
Gua means 'Peace' in Nuer, a Tribal Language in Sudan
(www.guaafricaonline.com)Gua Africa is registered as a Company limited by Guarantee seeking for charitable status in the United Kingdom, and dedicated to working with people affected by war and poverty in Sub Saharan Africa.Gua Africa has representation in the United Kingdom, the United States, and different parts of Sub Saharan Africa. The organization has recently been registered formally, but for 8 years has been informally helping young individuals in the South of Sudan and in Kenya obtain education. The founder of Gua Africa is Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier of Sudan’s long-standing civil war.Gua Africa seeks to work with organisations, local institutions and governments that promote and ensure sustainable development of local communities in Sub Saharan Africa. Gua however believes that the best way to develop any society is to provide education and skills training to its people to ensure that they can fend for themselves in the future. It is in this regard that Gua Africa intends to involve itself primarily in establishing institutions of learning in the South of Sudan. Gua Africa takes into consideration that as a post-conflict state, local communities in the Sudan are victims to many health problems. Consequently, it is our objective to establish medical centres where the locals can access basic health care and advice. Gua Africa also hopes to involve itself in economic development by establishing business initiatives that provide financial advice, commercial lending, as well as business training for small scale businesses to help and equip the local and indigenous people of the Sudan to fight poverty.Gua Africa has been awarded two parcels of land which will be used to develop the Foundation’s first projects. Schools and health facilities in Leer, in Southern Sudan, and outside Nairobi, Kenya, will be built on the donated land.. We envision that these centres will serve as safe havens, where – for many for the first time – children will have an opportunity to receive vital physical and psychological care, followed by integration into a functioning educational system.The initial approach of the organisation is to develop and implement two pilot projects in the stated locations. Once experience has been gained additional projects across the affected areas will be developed in conjunction with all appropriate organisations and institutions. The first of these projects is Gua Africa in Sudan - Leer.Gua Africa believes that education and individual development of children and youth are key factors in providing sustained development for the region that ensures elimination of many of the ills facing the African continent. The Foundation will work with partner organizations that have a successful track record in building and running these types of centres, and also with local communities to assure that they become stakeholders, committed to the success of these institutions. We hope to expand beyond these two projects in the near future.Gua Africa's fund-raising strategy includes concerts, lectures, and grant applications. We will collaborate with celebrity activists, organizations and private donors to put the necessary budget in place. The estimated five years budget for Gua Africa Leer and Gua Africa Nairobi is yet to be confirmed.The Foundation will work with the UN World Food Programme and its Food for School, Work and Training initiatives, Africa’s Children’s Fund and The Restoration Village Project, and other similar organizations. Students who attend the school, workers engaged in constructing the institutions, and teachers in training will receive medical and food supplies as they work in the projects in addition to their salaries. This will ensure that the benefits of these centres reach far outside as the facilities themselves, and tie in communities as stakeholders.For more information please visit www.guaafricaonline.net
